In a major crackdown on illegal gambling activities, Kodagu district police raided a homestay in Kadagadalu village of Madikeri taluk and arrested 28 people for engaging in illegal gambling activities. The raid was conducted by the Crime Detection Special Team of the Madikeri Sub-Division based on credible information concerning gambling activities carried out at the property.
Police officers say they conducted an operation at Madilu Homestay in Kadagadalu village, where a lot of people had gathered for gambling, and the police team quickly entered the property and caught some people red-handed betting and engaging in other gambling-related activities.
The 28 accused persons were taken into custody in this operation. The arrested individuals are thought to be residents of Mandya, Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and other districts. The gambling activity had attracted people from various parts of Karnataka, which means the operation was very organised, he said.
Police seized cash amounting to ₹11 lakh during the raid, which is believed to have been used for gambling. Officers also seized five cars, one two-wheeler and 35 mobile phones from the spot. The seized materials will be of great importance for the investigation in the future.
Police sources found that the gambling was taking place illegally at the homestay, and therefore illegal gambling and illegal activity is being done in any hospitality establishment. Now the authorities are investigating whether the owners or managers of the homestay had prior knowledge of the gambling operation and if they were involved in arranging the event.
The Kodagu district police have said they are going to take very hard measures against those who organised the gambling activity. “Such illegal gatherings are illegal but also criminalise citizens and can create law-and-order problems and promote other criminal activities,” said police chief Eddy E. Al-Katiyev.
The Kadagadalu village's beautiful surroundings, tourism-related businesses, and tourist attractions surprised the inhabitants of the area. The use of a homestay for illegal gambling has raised some questions as to the monitoring of commercial establishments in the area to which it belongs.
Following the raid, a case has been registered at the Madikeri Rural Police Station according to the law. The accused are being questioned, and the money transactions that occurred in the gambling operation are being verified. The mobile phones seized during the raid are being analysed, and the investigation into any other individuals associated with the racket is in progress.
Police officials are continuing to make good on promises to crack down on illegal gambling and other illegal activities across the district, they added. “There will be serious judicial action against anyone breaking the law,” he said.
The successful operation has been hailed as a significant achievement for the Madikeri Sub-Division Crime Detection Special Team, which continues to intensify efforts to curb organised illegal activities in Kodagu district.
